Thanksgiving Decor, Entertaining and Recipie's

Thanksgiving is only a day or so away! Here is your one-stop-and-grocery-shop planner for a classic Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

(Click on the titles)

*****Decor*****

 

 

*****Entertaining*****

How to Set a Proper Table

 

*****Classic Recipe's*****

Best Turkey Recipe Ever

Voted Best Turkey of 2011 by Los Angeles Times

 5 Star Stuffing Recipe

The Best Creamed Corn Recipe

15 Minute Cranberry Sauce

French's Green Beans

Candied Yams

Creamy Buttery Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Fresh Rolls

Pears en Papillote with Chocolate and Vanilla Bean

Pumpkin Pie

Good luck my friends!

P.S. I am THANKFUL for you!

Bartlett Pear Pastries with Almonds and Spiced Honey

I bought some pastry sheets from Trader Joes a few weeks ago and I've been eagerly brain storming what I could make with them! It was a stormy Sunday and I was in the mood for some cozy cooking. Here's what I came up with! They are super tasty, EASY to make and fancy to boot!

Here's what you'll need:

Makes ~12:

Pastry Dough (flat sheets)

1 Pear

1 Handful of Almonds

Almond Paste:

1 Cup Almond Meal

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

1 Egg White

1 Teaspoon Almond Extract

Spiced Honey:

1/4 Cup Honey

1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

Directions:

- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

- Mix 1 cup of almond meal with 1/2 Cup powdered sugar, 1 egg white and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract in a small bowl. Set aside.

(the consistency of the almond paste will be a tad soupy...don't worry it will thicken-up in the oven)

- Cut your pastry sheets into 4-inch squares and place them on a cookie sheet lined with a silpat.

- Spoon a bit of almond paste onto each pastry square

- Cut your pear into thin wedges and place on each pastry

- Chop almonds and sprinkle over pastries

- Place pasteries in the oven for 15 minutes

- Mix 1/4 cup of honey with 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and drizzle over the pastries

Enjoy.

Tasty, Healthy Kale Chips

Kale is one of the most vitamin packed veggies you can find. It is so good for you!

Two problems though...One, it tastes nasty and two, no one knows what to do with it! Fear not my friends, I have found a tasty way to bring this veggie into your life! I made these chips from eatingwell last week and they are amazing! They remind me a little of salty potato chips with a hint of bacon.

Enjoy!

1 large bunch kale, tough stems removed, leaves torn into pieces (about 16 cups; see Note)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

sea salt to taste

1. Position racks in upper third and center of oven; preheat to 400°F.
2. If kale is wet, very thoroughly pat dry with a clean kitchen towel; transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle the kale with oil and sprinkle with salt. Using your hands, massage the oil and salt onto the kale leaves to evenly coat. Fill 2 large rimmed baking sheets with a layer of kale, making sure the leaves don’t overlap. (If the kale won’t all fit, make the chips in batches.)
3. Bake until most leaves are crisp, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through, 8 to 12 minutes total. (If baking a batch on just one sheet, start checking after 8 minutes to prevent burning.)

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

• Note: Choose organic kale when possible. Nonorganic can have high pesticide residue.

Nutrition

Per serving: 110 calories; 5 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 16 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 5 g protein; 6 g fiber; 210 mg sodium; 642 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (767% daily value), Vitamin C (192% dv), Calcium (20% dv), Potassium (18% dv).

DIY: Lace Denim Shorts

Such a cute idea. I know it's November, but I coudn't resist this DIY! You may want to hold off until a warmer month before you sport these babies!

Add lace inserts to denim shorts, via Oohsochic

Fabulous Wedding Ideas

So I've been collecting wedding pictures like crazy this past week. I bet my friends on Pinterest think I have a problem. Ha-ha. But hey...I've got a wedding to plan so I need all the ideas I can get! Here are a few of my recent finds. Let me know what you think!

Pictures: Pinterest

Best Homemade Bread -- New York Times.

I made this bread over the weekend! That wonderful homemade bread smell filled the house - it was so yummy and fresh! Mark Bittman from the New Your Times shares tips from the Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, NY. It's the best and easiest recipe I've found yet! If you want to jazz it up, try poking in a few roasted garlic gloves and rosemary sprigs after the rising process. 

Have fun cooking! You'll love this recipe!

Ingredients:

3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
1¼ teaspoon (8g) salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)

Equipment:

Two medium mixing bowls
6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic)
Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
Plastic wrap
Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)

Process:

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).
Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.

DIY: Cake Stands!

This is such a lovely tutorial for DIY Cake Stands! 

Click here to learn how!